The Missouri Asian American Bar Association joins the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) in condemning the revised executive order signed by President Trump stopping refugee admission and continuing a Muslim Ban.

President Trump’s new executive order that includes many of the discriminatory provisions of his earlier order, which also sought to stop refugees from entering the United States and halt immigration from several Muslim-majority countries. These orders, which are based on the misguided idea that certain religious and ethnic populations are more prone to violence, are incompatible with American values, and will not make our communities safer or our nation stronger. Notably, the order, continues to 1) suspend refugee admission for 120 days, 2) reduce and limit the number of refugee admissions, and 3) targets individuals from six Muslim-majority countries, suspending entry of individuals for 90 days, with some exceptions.

“The executive order is a continuation of the same policy that discriminates against and devalues refugees and members of the Muslim community,” said NAPABA President Cyndie Chang. “We must refuse to act out of fear and intolerance. We must not return to the dark chapters of our history where we judged people by the color of their skin, how they prayed, or where their family came from. We must stand up for our values of equity, justice, and opportunity.”

“The President’s Executive Action does nothing more than advance an anti-Muslim agenda espoused during the campaign under the guise of National Security,” said SABA President Vichal Kumar. “A refugee, by definition, is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. The supposed justification for this Executive Action punishes this person for the very same war and persecution that is causing them to leave in the first place.”

The new executive order clarifies it is not applicable to certain individuals, such as valid visa holders whose documents were issued on or before Jan. 27, 2017, lawful permanent residents, and dual-national passport holders. The order will take effect on March 16, 2017.

The executive order continues to require regular reports be published on suspected criminal activity committed by foreign nationals and refugees. When combined with reporting requirements under other immigration related executive orders, these reports will generate greater mistrust and fear of immigrant communities.

Both NAPABA and SABA joined litigation against the executive order enacted on Jan. 27, 2017. Our members have been at the airports assisting families, in the field educating communities about their rights, and in the courts supporting local and national pro bono efforts. Read their original statement here.

MAABA, NAPABA, and SABA join our fellow attorneys, the Asian Pacific American community, and Americans of all backgrounds in reiterating our commitment to diversity and justice. We remain committed to ensuring that all are free from discrimination and racial and religious profiling.

St. Louis & Kansas City – July 24, 2016 – A coalition of Asian American business and civic organizations including the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis, OCA St. Louis, the Missouri Asian American Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association of Metro St. Louis and Asian American Bar Association of Kansas City, join together to decry the imagery and rhetoric used in recent negative television political advertisements.

Asian American communities throughout Missouri are appalled and outraged by the blatantly racist political ads being paid for and distributed by the Tea Party Patriots and the State Conservative Reform Action PAC. One of the most disgraceful ads features two shadowy purported Chinese officials speaking Mandarin, discussing how they were able to purchase a Missouri farm due to the support of this candidate. The ad is clearly meant to elicit fear among Missouri voters and depicts Chinese and Asians as “the enemy”. The ad echoes the “Yellow Peril” sentiment from darker times in our nation’s history which led to abhorrent legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese American internment camps.

An ad paid for by Citizens for Kurt Schaefer for Attorney General irresponsibly attempts to score political points against Josh Hawley by wrongly implying that he supported terrorism as a result of legal work representing certain clients. A major objective of the ad is take advantage of anti-Muslim rhetoric and scare voters into fearing Muslim communities, including those of South Asian and Asian heritage, which puts the lives of families and children in these communities in danger of possible hate crimes.

Groups Call for Racist Political Attack Ads to Cease

This press release is not an endorsement or defense of any candidate for Missouri Attorney General. However, we call upon ALL of the candidates to publicly condemn and stop running these hateful ads. Ads like these which push an “us versus them” mentality are hurtful and harmful. They have no place in political campaigns or anywhere in our society.

Asian Americans have been a significant and valuable part of communities throughout the great State of Missouri for generations. In its stance for equal rights, the Asian community opposes any efforts to divide Missouri citizens and residents on the basis of race. Our approach highlights both the Asian community and the place it occupies in the broader community. It also positively emphasizes unity over division.

“I think it’s distasteful and disgraceful for shadowy out of state PACs to influence Missouri politics by throwing Asian Americans under the bus. OCA St. Louis is actively registering Asian American voters so that politicians on both sides understand our voices and votes count.”

Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis President Al Li

“As an alumnus of University of Missouri and citizen of Missouri for the past 40+ years, I am deeply disappointed with the utilization of anti-Chinese and anti-Muslim rhetoric that portrays Asian Americans in a derisive light. It is maddening to see those engaged in the Missouri political process incite Asian prejudice in order to gain votes. It only serves to move Missouri backwards while we are trying to move the state forward in economic growth and job creation”

Missouri Asian American Bar Association President Richard Juang

“Inflammatory and xenophobic ads of this nature are simply unacceptable. Asian-Americans are an integral part of this community and work hard every day to make Missouri and America great. Missouri’s politicians, regardless of party affiliation, must reject this divisive rhetoric.”

Asian American Bar Association of Kansas City President Ronald Nguyen

“It is appalling to see ads like this in Missouri in 2016 and that there are those who would further perpetuate hateful misconceptions for personal gain. It is these types of misconceptions that will cause prejudice towards the Asian Pacific American community in Missouri and the United States.

South Asian Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis President Omar Malik

“Anti-Chinese, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim political ads should be condemned by all political leaders as immoral and harmful to the Asian and South Asian communities here in Missouri and across the United States.”

For additional comments or more information, please contact Caroline Fan (carolinekfan@gmail.com or 202-255-9906)

We are proud to announce the 2016 Unity Dinner will be hosted at the Mandarain House Banquet Hall, and we will be partnering with the Mound City Bar Associations, the Hispanic Bar Association, Lawyers for Equality, the Women’s Law Association, and SABA to host this event.

We are proud to announce the 2015 Unity Dinner will be hosted at the Mandarain House Banquet Hall, and we will be partnering with the Mound City Bar Associations, the Hispanic Bar Association, Lawyers for Equality, the Women’s Law Association, and SABA to host this event.

We are proud to announce the 2014 Unity Dinner will be hosted at the St. Louis Zoo. MAABA will be partnering with the Mound City Bar Associations, the Hispanic Bar Association, Lawyers for Equality, the Women’s Law Association, and SABA to host this event.

Thanks to all those who came to the MAABA Happy Hour at The Mack, and donated to the Philippine relief effort. MAABA raised over $1,000.00!!! We could not have done this without the generous contributions of everyone who attended.